49ers Game review

Offense

JThe Niners had season lows in points (six) and yards (170), and matched a season low with 12 first downs. And how about the nine sacks they allowed, tying the most they’ve surrendered since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Alex Smith (61.1 passer rating) was running for his life, but he admitted he could have gotten off at least a few passes more quickly. His line obviously didn’t help and neither did the largely invisible Braylon Edwards (one catch) on that second-quarter interception.

Defense

MTeams usually win when they limit opponents to 16 points, only 1.5 points more than the Niners’ top-ranked scoring defense had averaged in the season’s first 10 games. The 49ers stuffed the Ravens’ run game (35 carries, 92 yards), but Joe Flacco converted 5 of 6 third downs on Baltimore’s two second-half scoring drives. San Francisco adjusted nicely on Anquan Boldin (four catches, 63 yards), who had one catch for 7 yards in the final three quarters.

Special Teams

MDavid Akers drilled a 52-yard field goal, improving to 6-for-6 on field goals of 50 yards or more this season. Punter Andy Lee was sensational, as usual, booming a 61-yard punt, averaging 57.6 yards a kick and finishing with a 48-yard net average. On the down side, the 49ers were offside on their first two kickoffs and Baltimore’s Lardarius Webb averaged 9.6 yards on five punt returns.

Coaching

MThe 49ers obviously were not prepared to deal with Baltimore’s pressure and some of that has to do with their short work week. Jim Harbaugh acknowledged Baltimore brought one stunt they hadn’t seen before, but he said the Ravens didn’t do anything surprising to generate so much pressure. That begs the question of why San Francisco looked so disheveled.

Overall

LThat would have been quite a trick if they managed to do it – beating a 7-3 team on a short week while traveling nearly 3,000 miles to Baltimore, where the Ravens have won 16 of their past 17 games. The 49ers still will win the NFC West, but this loss shows there’s work to be done if they want to make noise in the playoffs.